"In July 2024, we listened to the Labour government's first King's Speech. It contained a single line almost imperceptibly nodding towards something on artificial intelligence (AI). The government said it would 'seek to establish the appropriate legislation to place requirements on those working to develop the most powerful artificial intelligence models'. Some 20 months later - no bill, no consultation and very little comment."
"It was said there would be a draft bill ready to go at the end of 2024. Nothing appeared. A consultation heralded late last Autumn - still, this Spring, nothing. I suppose there is some consistency in this approach, but it is less defined by diving into the detail and more about mind the gap."
"I didn't want to lay out a voluminous report, just a straightforward one-pager making one single point - the time for talk is well past, the UK government must decide its position, its vision for AI in the UK and bring forward the necessary legislation."
The UK Labour government pledged in its July 2024 King's Speech to establish legislation for regulating powerful AI model development. However, no bill has materialized despite multiple missed deadlines and promised consultations. A draft bill expected by end of 2024 never appeared, and an autumn consultation remains incomplete. As Parliament approaches its end, no AI bill exists, and the upcoming May King's Speech is unlikely to address it. Meanwhile, the government acknowledges numerous AI-related issues requiring primary legislation. This delay contradicts the urgency of comprehensive cross-sector AI regulation needed across the UK economy.
#ai-legislation #uk-government-policy #regulatory-delay #artificial-intelligence-governance #parliamentary-accountability
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